Formable sleep positioner along with method for adjusting same

ABSTRACT

Provided is a formable sleep positioner adapted to assume an unformed state and a formed state. In the unformed state the positioner is linearly inclined upwardly from a foot portion to a head portion at an acute angle. In the formed state side portions flair upwardly to form a trough-shaped channel such that the top surface of the sleep positioner has a concave shape with the side portions defining lateral wings that act to resist lateral movement of an infant placed longitudinally on the top surface in the channel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/897740 filed on Jan. 24, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

One of the strongest human instincts involves the care and nurturing of offspring. Parents provide for their children in a wide variety of ways. At a basic level, however, most parents provide their children with the necessities of food, clothing and shelter. While the needs of children last from birth through later years, the care and nurturing of newborns and young infants present special issues.

In response to these special issues, the infant/baby industry continues to grow with new and innovative products that are continuingly made available to expectant mothers and fathers for the care of their children. Presently, the infant industry offers a vast number of products ranging from bedding products, travel products, feeding products, toys; bathing and health products, clothing, and the like. More specifically, for example, numerous cushion devices, such as sleep positioners are sometimes used to create a better sleeping environment for a young child. Of these products, perhaps the most sought after items are those that improve the comfort of an infant while sleeping to both maximize their time asleep and keep them safe.

There are various kinds of infant sleep aids that accomplish these goals. For example, some products play soothing sounds to help lull an infant to sleep and may even be sound activated so that if the infant awakes, the soothing sounds may again return the infant to sleep. Sleep aids may also come in the form of sleep supports to support an infant in a particular sleeping position. For example head supports position a sleeping infant's head in a manner that helps prevent Flat Head Syndrome (Plagiocephaly).

Oftentimes infant sleep aid products are developed in response to pediatrician recommendations. For example, some pediatricians recommend that an infant be placed either on his/her back while others recommend that the infant be placed on his/her side in an effort to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, commonly referred to as SIDS. As a result, various infant sleep positioners have been developed and typically take the form of support pillows or wedges that may be positioned about the infant to maintain the infant in the desired sleeping position.

Some pediatricians have also recommended that an infant's overall sleep may be improved if the infants head is elevated. According to some pediatricians, elevating an infant's head makes breathing easier and improves digestion, particularly for nasal congestion and digestive problems. An example of an infant sleep aid directed toward elevating an infant's head is sometimes referred to as a crib wedge. Crib wedges may be in the form of an inclined pad are typically designed to fit within a crib. Some crib wedges are configured to fit underneath a standard crib sheet while others remain above the crib sheet similar to a pillow

While crib wedges may improve the overall comfort of an infant while sleeping infants tend to roll out of position due to the slope of the wedge. As a result, the infant is unable to realize the benefits of the crib wedge and, perhaps more importantly, may shift into a position that is potentially harmful to the infant's health. Accordingly, there is a need for an infant sleep aid that both elevates an infant's head and maintains the infant in a safe position while sleeping.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments of a formable sleep positioner are provided. According to one exemplary embodiment the positioner comprises a head portion) a foot portion, a pair of opposite side portions, a bottom surface for confronting a support surface, and a top surface opposite the bottom surface. The positioner is adapted to assume an unformed state wherein it is a linearly inclined upwardly from the foot portion to the head portion at an acute angle, and a formed state wherein the side portions flare upwardly to form a trough-shaped channel such that the upper surface has a concave shape with the side portions defining lateral wings for resisting lateral movement of an infant placed longitudinally on the top surface. In preferred embodiments, the sleep positioner incorporates an inner pad which is received in an outer casing. The inner pad has an upper surface and a bottom surface. A forming member is embedded in the pad between these surfaces and is manually conformable into a formed state so that the side portions flare upwardly to form the trough-shaped channel.

The forming member may include upper and lower panels which are secured together to create a bendable backbone for the positioner. Each panel may be constructed of stiff, yet resilient material. The backbone mounts a transversely extending forming element for allowing configuration of the positioner into the formed state, while preventing collapse of the lateral wings under influence of an infant placed thereon. The forming element may be a malleable wire sandwiched between upper and lower panels of foam material, with the upper panel having a paper a thickness to provide an inclined surface for the sleep positioner.

In another exemplary embodiment, the head portion includes upper and lower sections which move relative to one another and, preferably, independently of the side portions. Here, the forming member includes independently movable forming elements, a first one allowing the side portions to flare upwardly, and a second one allowing the head portion to pivot relative to the foot portion.

Also provided is a method of adjusting a sleep positioner to accommodate an infant. According to the method, a pad is provided as described above. This pad is manually configured into a formed state to cause the side portions to flare upwardly and form the trough-shaped channel. Alternatively, or in conjunction, the pad's head portion is elevated relative to the foot portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an infant placed on a sleep positioner according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention that has been configured into a formed state;

FIG. 2 is a side view in elevation of the infant an sleep positioner of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the sleep positioner of FIGS. 1 and 2, in an unformed state, and showing the forming member thereof in phantom;

FIG. 4( a) is a side view in elevation of the sleep positioner of FIG. 3 in an unformed state;

FIG. 4( b) is a side view in elevation, similar to FIG. 4( a), but showing the sleep positioner in a formed state;

FIG. 5( a) is an end view in elevation of the sleep positioner of FIG. 3 in an unformed state;

FIG. 5( b) is a side view in elevation, similar to FIG. 5( a), but showing the sleep positioner in a formed state;

FIG. 6( a) is a top plan view of the forming member according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6( b) is a top plan view of an alternative construction for a forming member;

FIG. 7 is an exploded side view in elevation showing the construction of the inner pad member of the sleep positioner according the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the outer cover member the receives the inner pad member;

FIG. 9 is a side view in cross-section of the outer cover member of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a sleep positioner according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention that has been configured into a formed state;

FIG. 11( a) is a side view in elevation of the infant the inner pad of sleep positioner of FIG. 10 configured into a formed state;

FIG. 11( b) is a side view in elevation of the inner pad of the sleep positioner of FIG. 10 in a partially formed state;

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the forming member according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is an exploded side view in elevation showing the construction of the inner pad member of the sleep positioner according the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an outer cover member for use with the sleep positioner according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The present invention broadly relates to positioners that are used to support an infant during times of rest and sleep. The embodiments described herein specifically disclose a sleep positioner the may be manually conformed to provide a contoured surface the has side portions that resist lateral movement of the infant placed therein. At the same time, the embodiments provide a longitudinally sloped surface operative to elevate the head of the infant. In one embodiment the head portion of the positioner may be selectively conformed to change the elevation of the infant's head.

A first exemplary embodiment of the present invention is introduced in FIGS. 1 and 2 where it may be seen that infant 12 is placed on positioner 10 with positioner 10 being in a formed state to resist lateral movement of the infant 12. Infant 12 is oriented longitudinally on top of sleep positioner 10 that extends along a longitudinal axis “L”. Accordingly, positioner 10 has a head portion 14, a foot portion 16 and a pair of opposite side portions 18. A bottom surface 20 is adapted to confront a support surface 24 with infant 12 located on a top surface 22 that is opposite bottom surface 20.

With reference now to FIG. 3, 4(a) and 5(a), sleep positioner 10 is illustrated in a flattened or unformed state. In this state, it may be seen that positioner 10 is linearly inclined upwardly from foot portion 16 to head portion 14 at a small acute angle “a” of about ten to twenty degrees. This inclination has been found to assist in breathing, to aid in digestion, particularly in cases where there is nasal congestion or digestive problems.

It should be appreciated, however, that a forming member 30 is embedded in the inner pad of positioner 10 as is shown in phantom in FIG. 3. Thus, as is illustrated in FIGS. 4( b) and 5(b), the side portions 18 of sleep positioner 10 can be selectively contoured or formed into a formed state wherein side portions 18 flare upwardly to form a trough-like channel 25. In this formed state, upper surface 22 of positioner 10 takes on a concave shape with side portions 18 defining lateral wings 26 that act to resist lateral movement of the infant placed in channel 25.

The ability to conform sleep positioner 10 as described above is provided by the forming member 30 that is best shown in FIGS. 6( a) and 7. Here, it may be seen that forming member 30 includes an upper panel 32 and a lower panel 34 that are of common rectangular shape. Panels 32 and 34 are constructed of a stiff, yet flexible resilient material, such as a suitable plastic sheet material, which may be secured to one another to create a bendable resilient backbone 40 for the positioner. As is seen in FIG. 3, panels 32 and 34 are oriented so that the long dimension of their common rectangular shape extends longitudinal of positioner 10.

Backbone 40 serves to mount a formable element that extends transversely to backbone 40. In this exemplary embodiment, the formable element is provided by a loop 42 of malleable wire that is stitched into position between panels 32 and 34 by stitching 36 to form a pair of laterally projecting loop portions 44 and 46. This malleable wire should be of sufficient gauge so as to allow an adult to be able to easily configure positioner 10 into the formed state, yet be strong enough to prevent collapse of wings 26 under the influence of the infant 12 placed on the positioner. If desired, this wire may be plastic coated. Other suitable materials currently known or subsequently developed may also be appropriate. Alternative malleable structures are contemplated by this invention, such a malleable sheet material of metal, etc.

An alternative backbone construction is depicted in FIG. 6( b). Here, backbone 40(1) has a shape corresponding to that generated by the intersection of a circle and a rectangle. As such, backbone 40(1) includes an enlarged portion 39 and a rectangular portion 41. Enlarged portion 39 has a circular or bulbous shape and is wider than rectangular portion 41 to provide additional lateral stability to the positioner and further prevent rocking motions when an infant is placed therein. Although not shown in FIG. 6( b), it should be appreciated that backbone 40(1) also preferably incorporates a pair of commonly shaped panels secured to one another with a formable element therebetween to achieve a forming element 30(1). Further, the skilled artisan will recognize that additional lateral stability could be provided by utilizing geometric configurations other than that illustrated in FIG. 6( b).

In any event, with reference now to FIG. 7, the construction of the inner pad 50 of positioner 10 may be understood in greater detail. Here it may be seen that the loop 42 of malleable wire is sandwiched between panels 32 and 34 to create forming member 30. Forming member 30, in turn, is sandwiched between a lower panel 52 of foam material, such as an open celled polyurethane foam. Lower panel 52 has a uniform thickness “t” of about one-half inch. An upper panel 54 of foam material is then adhered to panel 52 by any suitable adhesive in order to entrap forming member 30 therebetween. Panel 54 has a tapering thickness to provide the inclined surface for positioner 10, and it may be constructed again of any suitable foam material, such as polyurethane. If desired, panel 54 can be constructed of a memory foam material. Panels 52 and 54 has a common peripheral shape, generally ovoid, but with foot portion 16 being slightly wider than head portion 14, as is shown in FIG. 3.

Inner pad 50 is adapted to be received in an outer cover or casing 60 that is depicted in FIGS. 8 and 9. Here it may be seen that casing 60 is constructed of and upper sheet 62 of fabric material that is joined at its perimeter to the perimeter of a lower sheet 64 of fabric material. Lower sheet 64, however, is separated into two sections, namely head section 66 and foot section 68, which slightly overlap one another and that provide a mouth 70 operative to permit insertion and removal of inner pad 50 into and out of the interior 72 of casing 60. Cooperative hook and loop fastening strips 74 and 76 may be located on the margins of sections 66 and 68 proximately to mouth 70 in order to releasably secure sections 66 and 68 together to close mouth 70.

A second exemplary embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 10. Here, positioner 110 is shown in a fully formed state having sides 118 contoured to resist lateral movement of an infant, similarly to that as described above. Accordingly, positioner 110 has a head portion 114, a foot portion 116 and a pair of opposite side portions 118. A bottom surface 120 is again adapted to confront a support surface with the infant located on a top surface 122 that is opposite bottom surface 120.

Positioner 110 again has an inner pad 128, shown in FIGS. 11( a) and 11(b) that is adapted to be received in the interior of an outer cover or casing 180 (FIG. 10). In this embodiment, however, it may be appreciated that the head portion 130 of pad 128 has two sections, a lower section 132 and an upper section 134. Sections 132 and 134 converge at a common vertex 136 and are relatively pivotal with respect to one another along this vertex. FIG. 11( a) illustrates pad 128 in a fully configured state with both sides 118 contoured and the upper section 134 of the head portion 130 elevated. This allows a user to elevate the infant's head by a desired degree independently of the conforming of sides 118. FIG. 11( b) illustrates pad 128 in a partially configured state where the upper section 134 of the head portion 130 confronts lower section 132 while sides 118 remain contoured. This pivotal nature of upper section 134 eliminates the tapering of the pad 128 from the foot portion to the head portion.

Once again, a forming member 140 is embedded in the inner pad 128 of positioner 110 to allow desired configuration of positioner 110. With reference now to FIG. 12, it may be seen that forming member 140 includes a bendable, resilient backbone 142 mounting a loop 144 of malleable plastic coated wire sandwiched between two panels, as described above. To form lateral loop portions 145 and 146.

A second, generally D-shaped loop 150 of wire is longitudinally-spaced from loop 144 in order to provide the head elevating feature of this embodiment. Loop 150 has an inner portion 152 sandwiched between the panels of backbone 142 in order to increase stability. A pair of laterally projecting arm portions 154 extend generally perpendicularly to backbone 142 on opposite sides thereof. The outer ends of arm portions 154 are then interconnected by an arcuate portion 156. Arm portions 154 and arcuate portion 156 are sandwiched between a pair of generally D-shaped strips of resilient, bendable plastic material that are stitched together to entrap the malleable wire and thus form a hoop 158. It should be understood that a gap 160 is provided in this D-shaped hoop 158 so that free ends 162 are spaced from backbone 142. Accordingly, hoop 158 may be pivoted relative to backbone 142 so as to pivot the upper section 134 of the head portion 130 of pad 128.

The construction of the inner pad 128 of positioner 110 may be understood in greater detail with reference to FIG. 13. Here it may be seen that forming member 140 is sandwiched between a lower panel 172 of foam material, such as an open celled polyurethane foam. Lower panel 172 has a uniform thickness “t” of about one-half inch. An upper panel 174 of foam material then has a foot portion 175 adhered to foot portion 173 of panel 172 by any suitable adhesive in order to entrap the foot portion of backbone 142 therebetween. The upper or head portion of backbone 142 is then trapped between a head portion 176 of panel 172 and an auxiliary foam panel 177 secured by a suitable adhesive. Similarly, hoop 158 is trapped between head portion 178 of panel 174 by an auxiliary foam pane 179 secured by a suitable adhesive.

As noted above, inner pad 128 is adapted to be received in an outer cover or casing 180 that is depicted in FIG. 14. The construction of casing 180 is similar to that of casing 60, but casing 180 includes a pocket 182 to receive foot portion 129 of pad 128 and pockets 184 and 186 and 184 to receive lower section 132 and upper section 134 of pad 128, respectively. A suitable mouth to permit insertion and removal of inner pad 128 into and out of the interior of casing 180 is again provided, and similar cooperative hook and loop fastening strips releasably secure to close this mouth.

Accordingly, the present invention has been described with some degree of particularity directed to the exemplary embodiments thereof. It should be appreciated, though, that the present invention is defined by the following claims construed in light of the prior art so that modifications or changes may be made to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention without departing from the inventive concepts contained herein. 

1. A formable sleep positioner, comprising: a. a head portion; b. a foot portion; c. a pair of opposite side portions; d. a bottom surface operative to confront a support surface; and e. a top surface opposite the bottom surface, said sleep positioner adapted to assume an unformed state wherein said positioner is linearly inclined upwardly from said foot portion to said head portion at an acute angle, and a formed state wherein said side portions flair upwardly to form a trough-shaped channel such that said upper surface has a concave shape with said side portions defining lateral wings that act resist lateral movement of an infant placed longitudinally on said top surface in the channel.
 2. A formable sleep positioner according to claim 2 wherein said head portion is selectively conformable to change elevation of the infant's head.
 3. A formable sleep positioner according to claim 1 wherein said acute angle is between about 10-20 degrees.
 4. A formable sleep positioner according to claim 1 including a forming member imbedded in said positioner.
 5. A formable sleep positioner according to claim 4 wherein said forming member includes upper and lower panels secured together to create a bendable backbone for said positioner.
 6. A formable sleep positioner according to claim 5 wherein said upper panel and said lower panel are each constructed of the stiff, yet resilient material.
 7. A formable sleep positioner according to claim 6 wherein said backbone mounts a transversely extending forming element for allowing an adult to configure said positioner into the formed state, while preventing collapse of said lateral wings under influence the infant placed on the positioner.
 8. A formable sleep positioner according to claim 7 wherein said forming element is a loop of malleable wire of sufficient gauge.
 9. A formable sleep positioner according to claim 8 wherein said malleable wire is stitched between said upper and lower panels to form a pair of laterally projecting loop portions.
 10. A formable sleep positioner according to claim 4 wherein said forming member is sandwiched between a lower panel of foam material and an upper panel of foam material.
 11. A formable sleep positioner according to 10 wherein said upper and a lower panels are secured to one another, said lower panel has a constant thickness and said upper panel has a tapering thickness to provide an inclined surface for said sleep positioner.
 12. A formable sleep positioner according to claim 10 wherein said upper panel, said lower panel and said forming member define an inner pad for said sleep position or and including an outer casing which receives said inner pad.
 13. A formable sleep positioner. comprising; a. an outer casing; and b. an inner pad received in said outer casing, said inner pad, including: i. an upper surface; ii. a bottom surface; and iii. a forming member embedded in said pad between said upper surface and said bottom surfaces, said forming member manually conformable into a formed state so that side portions of said positioner flare upwardly to form a trough-shaped channel for placing an infant.
 14. A formable sleep positioner, comprising, a. a pad including: i. a head portion; ii. a foot portion; iii. a pair of opposite side portions; iv. a bottom surface operative to confront a support surface; v. a top surface opposite the bottom surface; and vi. a forming member embedded within said pad between said top and bottom surfaces, said forming member manually configurable into a formed state so that said side portions flare upwardly to form a trough-shaped channel and define a lateral wings at act to resist lateral movement and infant when placed on top surface.
 15. A formable sleep positioner according to claim 14 wherein said head portion includes upper and lower sections which move relative to one another to elevate said head portion relative to said foot portion.
 16. A formable sleep positioner according to 15 wherein said upper and lower sections converge toward a common vertex and relatively with respect to one another along the vertex.
 17. A formable sleep positioner according to 15 wherein said pad is configured to permit said head portion to move independently of said side portions.
 18. A formable sleep positioner according to new 15 wherein said forming member includes a pair of independently movable forming elements.
 19. A formable sleep positioner according to 18 wherein a first one of said forming elements allows said side portions to flare upwardly, and a second one of said forming elements allows said head portion to pivot relative to said foot portion.
 20. A formable sleep positioner according to claim 19 wherein said first forming element is an oval D-shaped loop of malleable wire formed by a pair of laterally projecting loop portions of sufficient gauge to allow an adult to configure said sleep positioner into the formed state, while preventing collapse of said side portions under influence an infant when placed on top surface.
 21. A formable sleep positioner according to claim 20 wherein said second forming element is a D-shaped loop of malleable wire which is longitudinally space from said first forming element.
 22. A formable sleep positioner according to claim 14 wherein said forming member includes upper and lower panels, each constructed of a stiff, yet resilient materal, which are secured together to create a bendable backbone for said positioner.
 23. A formable sleep positioner according to claim 22 wherein said forming member is sandwiched between a lower panel of foam material and an upper panel of foam material, said lower panel having a constant thickness and said upper panel having a tapering thickness to provide an inclined surface for said sleep positioner.
 24. A formable sleep positioner for elevating and infant's head while sleeping, comprising a pad including: a. a foot portion; b. a head portion including a lower section and un upper section which are adapted to move relative to one another to elevate said head portion relative to said foot portion; c. a pair of opposite side portions; d. a top surface on which the infant may be place; and e. a bottom surface opposite the top surface.
 25. A formable sleep positioner according to claim 24 which is adapted to assume an unformed state wherein said positioner is linearly inclined upwardly from said foot portion to said head portion at an acute angle, and a formed state wherein said side portions flair upwardly to form a trough-shaped channel such that said upper surface has a concave shape with said side portions defining lateral wings that act resist lateral movement of an infant placed longitudinally on said top surface in the channel.
 26. A method of adjusting a sleep positioner to accommodate an infant, comprising: a. providing a pad having opposite upper and lower surface, said pad including a head portion, a foot portion, a pair of opposite side portions, and a forming member imbedded between said upper and lower surfaces; and b. performing at least one of: i. manually configuring said pad into a formed state to cause said side portions to flare upwardly and form a trough-shaped channel whereby said side portions define lateral wing that act to resist lateral movement of the infant when placed in the channel, or ii. manually elevating said head poriton relative to said foot portion. 